The search is on for Canada’s Next Great Olympians

TORONTO, February 1, 2016 - Have you wondered if you could be an Olympian? Could you compete on the world stage? RBC, in partnership with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the Canadian Olympic Foundation (COF) would like to help Canadian youth find out.

Continuing their longstanding commitment to Canadian amateur and high-performance athletes, RBC, CBC, COC and COF today launched RBC Training Ground - a series of regional workout events designed to help sport officials uncover athletes with Olympic podium potential, in sports the athletes may not have considered.

'Our nation is filled with talented athletes and we know that Olympic dreams don’t always follow the same path,' said Mary DePaoli, Chief Brand and Communications Officer, RBC. 'RBC Training Ground is about opening up more opportunities for undiscovered athletic stars to represent Canada in ways they may have never thought possible. We’re proud to offer this open invitation to athletes across the country to put their skills to the test and discover the full extent of their potential.'

At RBC Training Ground events, local athletes will execute a series of workouts measuring speed, power, strength and endurance. They will perform in front of coaches and officials from a variety of national and provincial sport organizations and their results will be measured against performance benchmarks to determine an athlete's capacity for sport at its highest level.

Any athlete between the ages of 14 and 25 can enter to qualify at RBCTrainingGround.ca. With four RBC Training Ground events taking place across the country – February 20 in Vancouver, February 27 in Montreal, March 5 in Toronto and March 12 in Halifax – there is no fee to participate. Athletes who are eligible will be introduced to program experts and invited to partake in their local workout.

'Sports like bobsleigh, rowing, cycling and athletics are filled with extraordinary athletes who came to these sports later in life just like me,' said Luke Demetre, RBC Olympian (Sochi 2014, Bobsleigh), who will help to identify future Olympians and mentor selected participants in years to come. 'The goal of RBC Training Ground is to make sure every Canadian with true potential is given the chance to pursue their Olympic dream.'

Up to ten athletes will be identified at each of four regional events to receive additional assistance such as funding, resources, coaching and/or mentorship through the COF and RBC that is necessary to achieve their budding Olympic journey. Four top performers will also receive a trip to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to help fuel their passion and expose them to the Olympic experience from a competitor’s perspective.

“Our mission is to create unique business solutions for our partners and we feel privileged to have found like-minded partners open to collaborating with us on such an initiative. RBC Training Ground was created with a focus on discovering Canada’s greatest Olympic potential and bringing their journeys to life on the road to the Olympic Games,” said Jean Mongeau, Chief Revenue Officer, CBC & Radio-Canada. 'If you are - or know of - an athlete with potential please visit RBCTrainingGround.ca to learn more and sign up for an event near you.'

Program partners CBC/Radio-Canada, COC and the COF have joined RBC in committing to RBC Training Ground for the next five years. CBC will help introduce Canadians to the athletes and their stories uncovered at each RBC Training Ground event.

About RBC and Amateur Sport
RBC supports amateur sport in communities across Canada, from recreational to competitive activities, from grassroots to elite-level athletes. As the longest-standing corporate sponsor of the Canadian Olympic Team since 1947, RBC is committed to help build a lasting legacy for communities, athletes and Canada. RBC is a premier sponsor of Hockey Canada and works closely with sport associations to build development programs that enable athletes to compete at home and on the world stage.

RBC helps communities prosper, supporting a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2015, we contributed more than $100 million to causes around the world.